Graduate Schools and Jobs

Many Loyola writing students go on to graduate studies in science writing, fiction, professional writing, law, rhetoric, and other disciplines. Our writing students are also successful in the workplace. According to research conducted by the National Commission on Writing, 91 percent of employers "almost always" take writing into account when hiring for professional positions. Our recent Loyola writing graduates provide ample evidence of this statistic.

Today, our graduates work as physicians, attorneys, book and magazine editors, novelists, poets, public relations professionals, teachers, publishers, grant writers, professors, journalists, and webmasters. Visit our Alumni Updates page to see what some of our graduates are doing now.

To help students succeed in graduate school and the workplace, the writing department holds student development and professionalization workshops. Also, our faculty members come from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds, so they are experienced in the diverse opportunities open to writing students.

To help begin the conversation about life after Loyola, the rest of this page contains information and links on graduate schools and jobs available to writing students: Graduate Schools | Jobs

Loyola writing students have been accepted into a wide range of graduate studies, including law programs, graduate programs in creative writing (MFA), and programs in rhetoric and composition (MA and PhD), among others. This graduate work prepares students for professional careers and careers in academia.

Loyola's writing department is unique because the program boasts faculty members from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and training, which helps students prepare for the various options available to them after Loyola. Our faculty members can work with students to learn more about graduate schools and employment.

Graduate School Associations for Writers
Please use the links below to graduate school associations for writers to explore options for writing students:

The RhetMap may also be useful. This resource provides maps for doctoral programs in rhetoric and composition, as well as a job market map. The job market map displays academic positions listed on the MLA Job Information List.

Jobs for Writers

In the age of information, almost every organization needs good writers. Courses and internships in the writing department will prepare you to enter the workplace as flexible, skilled professionals. This section contains job postings for writers that have been sent to the department. We will be leaving some postings up beyond deadlines as examples of the types of positions available for Loyola writing students.

Listings
Full-Time Writing Positions Available at IBM
A wide variety of co-op, intern, and full-time writing positions are usually available at IBM. Please contact Dr. Allen Brizee for information regarding specific contacts within this global technology organization: Jobs at IBM.

Faculty Research Associate - Science Communicator
The Maryland NanoCenter at the University of Maryland College Park seeks an enthusiastic Faculty Research Assistant who will share its latest discoveries in nanoscience, nanotechnology, and energy research. The position will work jointly with the NEES Energy Frontier Research Center led by UMD.

The Faculty Research Assistant will be responsible for ongoing activities including writing press releases, covering events, drafting and editing announcements and posters, and developing content for brochures, websites, social media, and a semi-annual e-newsletter. This position is also responsible for individual projects including creating short video segments. Candidates must have knowledge in recording and editing video footage and interviewing researchers for video and print materials.

A degree in Journalism, Public Relations, English, or Communications is preferred. Candidate should have some photography and/or graphic design skills, initiative to learn about research on campus, and be excited to communicate in a number of creative ways. Please contact Kathryn Tracey, Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of Maryland, College Park.

Full-Time Science Writer
CMNS (http://www.cmns.umd.edu/) is looking for a full-time science writer; an ideal candidate would have a background in science journalism. The writing assignments would be composition geared toward publicity and outreach (press releases, etc.), social media outlets (including composition for the website), and editing others' scientific works (academic journal articles, grant proposals, etc.) In addition to the ability to meet these writing goals, a particularly strong candidate would have a demonstrated ability to address more broadly the communications needs for the college. Interested applicants are invited to send a CV and a cover letter to CMNS Scientific Coordinator Barbara Brawn-Cinani at bbrawn@umd.edu.

Professional Societies for Writers
Please use the links below to professional writing organizations to explore options for writing students:

The Association of Writers and Writing Programs "provides support, advocacy, resources, and community to nearly 50,000 writers, 500 college and university creative writing programs, and 125 writers’ conferences and centers."

The National Federation of State Poetry Societies "is a non-profit organization, exclusively educational and literary. Its purpose is to recognize the importance of poetry with respect to national cultural heritage. It is dedicated solely to the furtherance of poetry on the national level and serves to unite poets in the bonds of fellowship and understanding."

When using the career databases listed here, try using the following terms to find open positions:

writer

professional writer

technical writer

professional communication

technical communication

science writer

medical writer

non-profit writing

web writing

editor

publication

communication

The HittList: "The HittList contains info about science/medical writing/editing jobs, both staff and freelance and has been in service since 2001."